Your Definitive Guide to Sorting Junk Before Disposal

Throwing out junk may seem simple, but in reality, it is not. Whether you are simply decluttering or you are performing an annual spring cleaning, you will need to sort through the items you have and determine what to throw out and what to keep. Oftentimes when we are decluttering we end up keeping many things we don’t actually need. To ensure that you get rid of things that you don’t want or need, you should rely on a sorting system to help you effectively remove the junk from your home. By using a system to sort through your things you can also determine what to throw out and what to donate.

Make Decluttering Easy By Asking Yourself Questions

When decluttering your home, start sorting things according to their usefulness. You can begin by asking yourself when was the last time you used the item in hand. If the answer is sometime recently, then the item is definitely useful to you. You can even ask yourself how often you use the item as a follow-up. If the answer is frequently, then you definitely need to keep that item.

These are just a couple of questions you need to ask yourself when you are going through the stuff you are considering disposing of.

Decluttering

Here are a few more questions that may prove useful in determining whether something is worth keeping or has to be thrown out:

Is this the only item I have that does what it does? If it is not, how many of the same items do I have?

Is this expensive and was it difficult to obtain?

Will its value remain at such a level or will it depreciate at a fast rate over time?

Can I repurpose this? If it is broken, ask yourself if it can be fixed or used in another capacity.

Can someone else I know benefit from this item?

Will someone buy this from me?

Will it be worth a lot of money in the future?

Does it hold any sentimental value for me or for someone in my family?

Is it still in style and if not, will it come back in style in the near future?

These are just a few of the key questions you should ask yourself when you are going through the piles of items that you are contemplating getting rid of. If you are unsure whether or not an item has value before tossing it out, you can do some research on the item. You can also have it appraised by a professional if you find some information that makes you believe it may have some intrinsic value.

What Not to Throw Out: Proper Sorting

Sentimental value is an okay reason for holding on to certain items and this is acceptable, particularly if the item brings back memories that are important to you. You cannot use this reason to keep everything that you have in your home however. Using this reason to hold onto many things will only deter you from throwing out stuff that you don’t really want or need.

There are some things however that you definitely should hold on to. Here are some of the things you should never throw out:

Old Pictures

These are irreplaceable. Even when you have posted these images on your social media accounts, you should always keep original copies someplace where they won’t get damaged.

Important Documents

Old medical records, legal documents, and other similar items that may have some importance to you in the future should also be kept. Old medical tests and records may seem insignificant now but they may come in handy if your doctor needs them to diagnose or treat you in the future.

Family keepsakes and heirlooms

Even when that old clock on the mantle is no longer working or that rocking chair in the corner looks worn out, don’t discard these. If these belonged to members of your family, like your great, great grandmother or one of your ancestors, don’t throw these out. You can have these fixed and refinished to make them look more presentable but don’t throw these away. These are mementos of your family and are part of your history, so they should never be considered clutter or junk.

Get Help to Make Junk Disposal Easier

After you have cleared your home of junk, you may need to sort and dispose of some of these things yourself. There are items that local garbage pick up won’t get rid of for you, so you may need to cart these off yourself. However, there is an easier way, and that is to hire a company that offers junk hauling services. In Denver and the surrounding areas, the company to contact for this is Altitude Hauling.

Aside from hauling and disposing of your junk for you, we can also help you with your demolition work and concrete removal. We also believe in recycling and disposing of junk with the environment in mind. To find out how we can help you, and to schedule your junk pickup, contact us at 720 669 8512. You can also email us at [email protected] for your queries.